PREMIER LEAGUE HANDICAP (Exchange) 2025/26

Very surprised to see Sunderland strong favourites for this

Normally around 100 gets it done, but I struggle to see any of them getting to 100 with any confidence.

I fancy Chelsea to improve by ten to twelve points this season.  Purely conjecture of course but were they to do so their twelve point plus becomes huge.
Can’t be rssed  tying up any dosh for nine months however.

I'm not too surprised tobermory. I'd say Sunderland getting to 48 points is in the realm of possibility, more so than West ham getting to 65 points or Wolves getting to 61 points, for example

Yeah I agree with Chelsea. I can see them mounting a title charge, and around 88 points should win this for them. The only worry is depth in defence and keeping those players fit

I also see Everton going close. 62+ points is coming easily, IMO, which puts them in the game.

i think THE MIGHTY GUNNERS will run away with the league this season .100 points no problem.
the real question is, can they win it without losing a game

I've tended to back promote teams over the years but they have been shocking recently.

The handicapper is basically trying to figure what real world points they will get and add a h'cap to make it up to 90(though as Lifter says 100 is ballpark figure to win it as probable they will underrate one team by 10pts)

So they are predicting 38 for Sunderland. 10 of the last 15 promoted teams failed to get 30pts. Not seeing why Sunderland are thought to be stronger than most recent promoted teams, or why punters think the handicap underrates them!

I don't think Everton have enough of a start. 48pts last season was their best in a while, they may improve on that but I can't see by a lot.

Chelsea were a class below the Top 3 last year but they have definitely upgraded in attack.

Man United 3rd favs with only 21pts makes no sense to me.

I just think the signings by Sunderland and Everton will improve them a lot. Everton signing the likes of drewsbury-hall, grealish, alcaraz, barry, improves them a lot, and now they have a steady ship

Sunderland have spent bucketloads. Diara 30m, Adringa 24m, Le Fee 24m, Talbi 20m, Xhaka, etc... I think the market sees them singing Xhaka and spending big, and is taking a gamble they pull-off a Forest. While they likely still get relegated, the possibility of a "better than poor" season is there and a a better chance than 80% of whats required from other teams IMO

man city plus 3

the stats are obviously based on last seasons finishing positions (apart from promoted teams) and that puts them all roughly in the same posi.

if i was having a bet -which i wont - i reckon villa. palace and fulham look the value

Have had a dabble after seeing this thread, main bet so far is a lay of Everton which I originally thought there handicap was a little short anyway and having thought about it can't see the new stadium assisting them, opposition players will be used to playing in modern stadia as opposed to the atmosphere Goodison could generate.

I always expect West ham to do well.

Win first game and they are 14 points off top...

Backed 3 teams in trebles with teams in 2 other divisions.
West Ham,N'castle & Villa.(B366).

Aug 15, 2025 -- 12:44AM, Lifter wrote:

Sunderland have spent bucketloads. Diara 30m, Adringa 24m, Le Fee 24m, Talbi 20m, Xhaka, etc... I think the market sees them singing Xhaka and spending big, and is taking a gamble they pull-off a Forest. While they likely still get relegated, the possibility of a "better than poor" season is there and a a better chance than 80% of whats required from other teams IMO

Wouldn't teams with bigger expectations than Sunderland have signed those players if they were likely to be good PL players?

Grealish is very good but I can't see him flourishing under Moyes.

Likely he will subbed off on 76 mins in the first month, after 61 minutes by October and starting on the bench by December.

I've layed Sunderland, Man United to start with.

Small backs Bournemouth, Palace (@20) Fulham, West Ham

Aug 15, 2025 -- 7:24PM, tobermory wrote:

Aug 15, 2025 -- 12:44AM, Lifter wrote:Sunderland have spent bucketloads. Diara 30m, Adringa 24m, Le Fee 24m, Talbi 20m, Xhaka, etc... I think the market sees them singing Xhaka and spending big, and is taking a gamble they pull-off a Forest. While they likely still get relegated, the possibility of a "better than poor" season is there and a a better chance than 80% of whats required from other teams IMOWouldn't teams with bigger expectations than Sunderland have signed those players if they were likely to be good PL players?

I know what you’re saying, but don’t personally think it works like that — many promoted teams have managed to sign players that keep them up. Money talks and we don’t know what’s they’re expecting / telling players about their aspirations. A few of those signings walk 80% of prem teams Imo. I think the key is they don’t actually have to be “good” prem players or to go on a forest run or anything, but just enough for them to sneak into 15th, which is very live IMO. But yeah, we shall see haha

tobermory - It's true that Everton got 48 points across the whole season, but 31 of those points came in the 19 games with Moyes back in charge,  so that is no doubt what has been factored in for this year's handicap ratings.

Interesting stat, Dixie -- do that again and they will go close (I know football aint that easy)

sunderland off to a flyer

After 6 games

1	Sunderland (+52)		63
2	Burnley(+51)		55
3	Leeds(+43)		51
4=	Brentford(+38)		45
4=	Crystal Palace(+33)		45
6	Bournemouth (+32)		43
7=	Fulham (+33)		41
7=	Everton(+33)		41
9	Wolves (+39)		40
10	West Ham (+35)		39
11	Nottingham Forest (+32)		37
12	Brighton (+27)		35
13	Tottenham (+22)		33
14=	Aston Villa (+22)		28
14=	Manchester United (+21)		28
16	Newcastle (15+)		21
17	Chelsea(+12)		20
18	Arsenal (+3)		16
19	Liverpool (+0)		15
20	Manchester City(+3)		13

5.6	Sunderland		29	Burnley
5.9	Crystal Palace		29	Fulham
8.4	Bournemouth		40	Liverpool
13.5	Leeds		70	Chelsea
16.5	Brighton		80	Nottingham Forest
17	Everton		85	Manchester City
20	Arsenal		130	Newcastle
22	Tottenham		160	West Ham
28	Manchester United		260	Aston Villa
28	Brentford		350	Wolves

Sunderland a red for me but a great start and entitled to be favs now.

Still, their first 6 games were about as easy as it can be. October fixtures tougher and December is brutal.

138	Sunderland		95	Burnley
267	Crystal Palace		246	Fulham
146	Bournemouth		56	Liverpool
157	Leeds		38	Chelsea
128	Brighton		167	Nottingham Forest
195	Everton		41	Manchester City
182	Arsenal		228	Newcastle
32	Tottenham		8	West Ham
209	Manchester United		196	Aston Villa
86	Brentford		48	Wolves

I had West Ham on the handicap, Nuno to the rescue

Shows how clueless you're Mes

Does it Nobby ? one guess before the season starts?

Quick, sign back in to the other clarke brother before anyone notices

West Ham ffs!

Anyone with a brain knew they were going to struggle. I backed Sunderland at 12/1.

After 13 games

1	Sunderland (+52)		74
2	Burnley(+51)		61
3	Brentford(+38)		57
4	Leeds(+43)		54
5	Crystal Palace (+33)		53
6=	Bournemouth (+32)		51
6=	Everton (+33)		51
8	Fulham (+33)		50
9	Brighton (+27)		49
10=	West Ham (+35)		46
10=	Aston Villa (+22)		46
12	Nottingham Forest (+32)		44
13	Manchester United (+21)		42
14	Wolves (+39)		41
15	Tottenham (+22)		40
16	Chelsea(+12)		36
17=	Newcastle (15+)		33
17=	Arsenal (+3)		33
19	Manchester City(+3)		28
20	Liverpool (+0)		21

1.85	Sunderland		90	Chelsea
9	Brentford		90	Fulham
11	Crystal Palace		160	Burnley
18	Bournemouth		170	Nottingham Forest
19	Brighton		210	Manchester City
29	Arsenal		260	West Ham
36	Manchester United		350	Newcastle
55	Everton		460	Liverpool
85	Aston Villa		480	Tottenham
85	Leeds		900	Wolves

I was 90 red on Sunderland before last week's games, £100 red on Brentford and 100-200 green on the next few.

Was thinking to let it ride as Sunderland were starting a tough run of fixtures but decided to red out for a £15 loss.

A good result considering how much I underestimated Sunderland. Well done to the backers.

FINAL

1	Sunderland (+52)		106
2	Manchester United (+21)		92
3	Brentford(+38)		91
4	Leeds(+43)		90
5	Bournemouth (+32)		89
6	Arsenal (+3)		88
7	Aston Villa (+22)		87
8	Fulham(+33)		85
9	Everton(+33)		82
10	Manchester City(+3)		81
11	Brighton (+27)		80
12	Crystal Palace(+33)		78
13	Nottingham Forest (+32)		76
14	West Ham (+35)		74
15	Burnley(+51)		73
16=	Newcastle (15+)		64
16=	Chelsea(+12)		64
18	Tottenham (+22)		63
19	Liverpool (+0)		60
20	Wolves (+39)		59